Nóirín O’Sullivan retires unexpectedly as Garda Commissioner

Embattled Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan unexpectedly announced her retirement yesterday with immediate effect.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan will consult the chair of the Policing Authority “in the coming weeks” to identify and appoint her successor.

Deputy Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin has been appointed Acting Garda Commissioner with full powers.

Ms O’Sullivan cited an “unending cycle” of scrutiny in her decision, which comes in the wake of several high-profile Garda controversies.

Expressing his “sincere gratitude”, Mr Flanagan said: “Since the establishment of An Garda Síochána, the role of Commissioner has been a hugely demanding one but I want to acknowledge that, during Commissioner O’Sullivan’s tenure, she was faced with particularly significant difficulties, many of which had built up over several decades.

“Commissioner O’Sullivan showed enormous resilience, determination and integrity in addressing those challenges and, in particular, in instituting a radical reform programme to modernise our policing service with the aim of providing the people of Ireland with world-class policing.

“As Minister for Justice and Equality, I will continue to press ahead with that necessary reform programme, informed by the work of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and supported by the Policing Authority and the Garda Inspectorate. I have no doubt that the men and women of An Garda Síochána who serve Ireland in the front line of policing have the appetite to embrace and drive that change.”